Free hand jointer device

ABSTRACT

An improved jointer device comprises removable jointer blade attached to a plate member; in a preferred embodiment, the plate member comprises a pair of plate member halves between which the jointer blade is clamped.

United States Patent [191 Francis FREE HAND JOINTER DEVICE [76]Inventor: Leonard L. Francis, 3710 Thom V Blvd., Las Vegas, Nev. 89106[22] Filed: Feb. 17, 1972 211 App]. No.: 227,056

[52] US. Cl. 404/89, 15/235.3

[51] Int. Cl. .5. E04g 21/20 [58] Field of Search... 404/89, 93;15/2353, 235.4, 15/235.8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 334,125 1/1886 Macdonald15/2353 988,457 4/1911 Glasscock 15/2353 1,027,396 5/1912 Abram 15/23539 1,348,639 8/1920 Grundmann 15/2353 1 Apr. 23, 1974 1,590,342 Abram15/2353 1,646,150 10/1927 Kennedy.. 1,713,513 5/1929 Abram.....2,834,199 5/1958 Freeman 15/235.8

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 632,106 11/1949 Great Britain 15/235!Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr. Attorney, Agent, .orFirm-Jerry R.Seiler 57 ABSTRACT An improved jointer device comprises removablejointer blade attached to a plate member; in a preferred embodiment, theplate member comprises a pair of plate member halves between which thejointer blade is clamped.

.2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 2 31974 SHEET 1 OF 3 mEDQEPATENTED APR 2 3 I974 SHEET 2 UF 3 MEDQE FREE HAND JOINTER DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ered unsightly but the setting up orplacement of the guides are time consumingand require additional laborand manpower costs. The operation of common small hand held jointersalso presents a tedious task requiring an operator on hands and knees toregroove the joint several times-as the concrete sets in an attempt toform a more perfect joint. Such a method is especially burdensome wherethe joints are of relatively great length.

Jointer blades are usually made of a relatively soft and inexpensivemetal. However, the blades often wear down rather rapidly when usedextensively due to frictiori and wear on the blade itself which must bedriven through the freshly laid concrete. along the jointer bladesurface; Since such jointers have not been usually provided withreplaceable jointer blades, when the device has been used extensively sothat the blade is no longer serviceable, a complete new devicemust bepurchased. Having to replace the handle or other jointer componentswhich are not unserviceably worn, make the replacement costs somewhateconomically disadvantageous. Jointer blade replacement is usuallydetermined when the distance along the lower blade edge and the jointerplate surface has been diminished so that the depth of a groove cut intothe cement is insufficient. Previous devices have not generally beenprovided with means for replacing or changing the blade for a deepercut. Itis to the elimination of the disadvantages of jointers asdescribed hereinabove that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a jointerdevice incorporating removable jointer blade secured to a plate member.I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates the device of theinvention, the individual components thereof being shown detached; FIG.2 illustrates the assembled device shown in FIG. 1; and

F IG. '3 illustrates analternative embodiment of a jointer device of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the jointerdevice comprises left i and right plate half members 10 and 10respectively.

These halves combined provide an enlarged plate having upper and lowersubstantially flat surfacesrThe lower surface will rest upon freshlypoured cement when the device is used to form or cut joint grooves.

Because of the relatively large plate surface area provided, the platecomprising the two. halves as shown, improved stability is realized asthe device is pushed across the cement surface. However, since the plateis rather long, for example, preferably between about one and aboutthree feet across, the overall weight per square inch at the cementsurface will be relatively small because of the weight distributionacross the total surface area contacted by the plate. Thus, anydepression on the concrete surface caused by the sliding plate will beminimized. Such a feature will be appreciated by those skilled in theart. I

' Secured approximately midway [between the forward and rear edges ofthe upper surface of the respective left and right plate members 10 and10', are left and right anchor bars 20 and 20 respectively. The anchorbars arezsecured by a plurality of rivets, two of which are shown as 27and 27 (right and left respectively).

However, other means for securing the anchor bars to the upper surfaceof the plate members may be used, it being understood that the bottomsurface of the plate is to be smooth and substantially uniform so as notto cause blemishes or marks on the concrete surface. Right and leftanchor bars 20 and 20' are'also provided with a plurality of threadedapertures 21 and 21' for securing tie bar 18 and a handle member as willbe more fully explained hereinafter. I

Also secured to each of the left and right plate mem-. bers 'l0 and 10is a-clamp bar, left clamp bar 30 attached along the inner side of leftplate member 10 and right clamp bar 30'. attached along the inner sideof right plate member 10' which plate member sides are oppositelydisposed and facing as. shown. The clamp bars may also be secured to theupper plate surface by rivets 17 and 17. Each of the clamp bars 30 and30' is provided with bolt apertures 115 and 15 through may be removedand a new replacement blade attached.

In a preferred embodiment, the plate member comprises right and leftplate halves each having oppositely disposed and adjacent facing sidesbetween which the jointer blade is secured. Clamp bars may be providedalong each of the facing sides having apertures thereinthrough which abolt or bolts may be engaged. Upper portions of the jointer blade may beprovided with bolt apertures which, cooperating with the apertures ofthe clamp bars may be secured by a bolt or bolts passing therethroughthereby clamping and securing the blade between the plate halves. Otherfeatures including anchor means and a tie bar may also be provided aswill be explained more fully hereinafter.

which clamp bolts "14, may be inserted for securing jointer blade 22. Itwill be noted that jointer blade 22 is provided with apertures 16through which clamp bolt 14 also pass. i

In order to further secure left and right plate members l0 and 10' forimproved structural stability a tie bar 18 may be used having aplurality of apertures 11 thereinthrough which bolts 13 may be insertedand which bolts may be threadedly engaged in threaded apertures 21 and21' of anchor bars 20 and 20' respectively. Any number of such aperturesin both tie bar 18 and threaded aperture in left and right anchor bars20 and 20 may be used together with a plurality of bolts 13 as desireddepending on the structural stability requirements.

Referring to both F 16$. 1 and 2, the latter showing the jointer deviceof the invention fully assembled, jointer blade 22 is placed between thefacing sides of left-and right plate members and 10 so that apertures 16align with apertures and 15 of the left and right clamp bars 30 and 30respectively. Bolts 14 are then inserted through the cooperating andcommunicating apertures and nuts 12 threaded on to the bolt ends. Oncethe bolts and nuts have been tightly engaged so as to secure jointerblade 22 between the two plate members, tie bar 18 is placed on anchorbars and 20' with apertures 11 aligned with apertures 20 and'2l. Bolts13 are then secured into the threaded apertures on the anchor bars sothat the device is rigidly assembled for use. Also shown 'inFIG. 2 is ahandle attachment member illustrated in phantom which may be secured byplacing bolts through the apertures and through tie bar 18 andthreadedly engaged into respective anchor bars 20 and 20. Thereafterhandles of any desired type and length may be attached to the handleattachment member.

Where the plate is to be used extensively and where longevity isdesired, the materials of which the respective plate halves areconstructed are preferably steel such as a high quality steel plate, forexample, 4: inch thick although other thicknesses may be used asdesired. If weight is a factor, lightweight alloys or aluminum platesmay be used instead.

The jointer blades may be composed of a cast bronze or other similarmaterial and having different depths and radii, for example, betweenabout 1 and /8 inch width at the top portion, a k to 1 inch depth withthe blade edge itself having a radius required to form a groovesatisfying various state and city building codes. Further, an operatormay have blades of several depths and widths available which may beeasily exchanged where different groove sizes are required. Such anadvantage as well as other modifications of the device as shown withinthe purview of the invention will be appreciated by those skilled in theart.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of .the invention isillustrated utilizing a single plate 35 to which jointer blade 32 isattached. The front and rear sides of the plate may be provided with athreaded aperture 39 which is aligned with an elongated rear and frontnotch 19 and 19' respectively. A bolt 38 is then threadedly secured toboth the front and rear of jointer blade 32 into the threaded apertures39 disposed at both front and rear of plate 35. To exchange the blade,the bolts are simply loosened, the blade disengaged by pulling it downso that upwardly extending flanges 36 and 36 are freed from therespective bolts, and a new blade inserted aligning notches l9 and 19with the bolts. FIG. 3 also illustrates a handle attachment member inphantom which can be secured to the upper side of plate 35 by threadedlyengaging bolts (not shown) 34 on the upper surface of the stand whilepushing and pulling the jointer to form a groove with much moreconvenience as compared to the use of previous devices. These as well asother embodiments will be evident to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A jointer device comprising a single plate having flat upper andlower surfaces and front and rear wall extending substantially normal tosaid upper and lower surfaces said upper surface having means forsecuring a handle thereto, a removable jointer blade extendingdownwardly from said lower surface said blade having front and rearintegral flanges extending upwardly and engaging said front and rearplate walls respectively, each flange having an elongated notch therein,and bolts secured in each of said front and rear plate walls and throughsaid notches for securing said jointer blade and whereby said blade maybe adjustably elevated and lowered along said notches.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the plate is between about 1 and about3 feet in length.

1. A jointer device comprising a single plate having flat upper andlower surfaces and front and rear wall extending substantially normal tosaid upper and lower surfaces said upper surface having means forsecuring a handle thereto, a removable jointer blade extendingdownwardly from said lower surface said blade having front and rearintegral flanges extending upwardly and engaging said front and rearplate walls respectively, each flange having an elongated notch therein,and bolts secured in each of said front and rear plate walls and throughsaid notches for securing said jointer blade and whereby said blade maybe adjustably elevated and lowered along said notches.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the plate is between about 1 and about 3 feet in length.